Incident · 2009-06-23

NTSB case DCA09IA064 · AIRBUS A330-323 · NUSC

What the record says

Event date: 2009-06-23
Event type: Incident
Highest injury level: No injuries
Aircraft: AIRBUS A330-323 (N805NW)
Operating rule: NUSC
Operator: NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC

Probable cause

Brief and temporary blockage of the pitot probes in cruise flight, most likely due to ice crystals aloft, leading to erroneous airspeed indications and airplane automation degradation as designed. Contributing to the incidents were design features of the Thales AA probes which left them more susceptible to high altitude ice crystal icing than other approved pitot probe designs.

Source: NTSB case DCA09IA064

Flight crew

No flight-crew details recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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